423  Houston County Commissioners Meeting  September 17, 2024 Warner Robins, Georgia  The Houston County Board of Commissioners meti in regular session at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, att thel Houston County Annexi in Warner Robins, Georgia, with Chairman Perdue presiding and Commissioners Byrd, Gottwals, Robinson, and Talton present. County Attorney Tom Hall, Director ofA Administration Robbie Dunbar, and Director of Operations Brian  Jones were also present.  Commissioner Robinson led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Rev. Andrew Howe of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church gave the Invocation and thanked the Commissioners for asking him to attend. He spoke about the Lutheran Church's origins and mentioned that next year, they will celebrate 45 yearsi in Houston County. He spoke about the worki his congregation is doing in the county: an after-school program to help children with homework, partnering with otherf food banks, and family support programs. He concluded by mentioning that while! hei isat transplant, both his children were born here ink Houston County. Each commissioner expressed appreciation to Rev. Howe for his service int the community and Motion by Mr. Talton, second by Mr. Byrd, and carried unanimously by all to approve the minutes from the special called session held on August 20, 2024, and the minutes from the Ms. Robinson presented a request for approval ofa quote to replace an inoperable backup Motion by Ms. Robinson, second by Mr. Gottwals, and carried unanimously by all to approve the quote of $133,708 from ESSE Generac Industrial of Birmingham, Alabama, for one backup generator fori the Woodard Road Water Treatment Plant. Estimated deliveryi is 38t to 40 weeks. Ms. Robinson presented a request from Purchasing to declare items surplus and schedule a public auction of said items. The public has been notified via newspaper advertisements (in the Houston Home Journal and the Macon Telegraph-Houston edition), county website postings, and prominent locations att the Purchasing Office, the Courthouse, the Government Motion by Ms. Robinson, second by Mr. Byrd, and carried unanimously by all to approve declaring items as surplus and scheduling a Public Auction to sell the items. The auction will be held on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. att the Houston County Warehouse, with Chairman! Perdue spoke about the list of vehicles being declared: surplus and the County's fleet of vehicles. He said that the Purchasing Department would review the fleet to see if any vehicles were not seeinge enough use. This couldI lead toa a reduction inf fleet size. He: stated he Ms. Robinson presented a request from Public Works to approve the GMP proposal for the  for coming tot the meeting to givet thei invocation.  September 3,2 2024 meeting.  generator att the Woodard Road' Water Treatment Plant.  Water Capital funds will fund this purchase.  Building, and the Annex Building.  ar rain date of Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 10:00a.m.  would update the Board when Purchasing completed the review. Houston County Superior Court Modifications project.  Houston County Commissioners Meeting Continued on Page 424    424  Houston County Commissioners Meeting Continued from Page 423  Motion by Ms. Robinson, second by Mr. Talton, and carried unanimously by all to approve the Guaranteed Maximum Price proposal for $512,251 for the Houston County Superior Court Modifications Project submitted by Parrish Construction Group, Inc., of Perry, Georgia, and authorize Chairman Perdue to sign the necessary GMP contract documents. This project will Chairman Perdue stated that he expected this project to grow through change orders. He clarified that the Superior Court needs renovations, and while contractors are on-site, they will undertake limited projects to address flooring, paint, and other maintenance tasks. Mr. Gottwals presented a request from the Engineering Department for approval ofal bid on the Intersection Improvements for South Houston Lake Road at Smithville Church Road Motion by Mr. Gottwals, second by Mr. Byrd, and carried unanimously by all to approve the award oft the! bid ont the Intersection Improvements for South Houston Lake Road at Smithville Church Road project for $1,992,497.35 to the low bidder, C. W. Matthews Contracting Company of Bolingbroke, Georgia. The 2018 SPLOST willi fund this project. Chairman Perdue explained that the idea for this project started from an annexation request and the concerns of Commissioner Gottwals and citizens about traffic safety at this intersection: and throught traffici ins surrounding neighborhoods. He also stated that it had been requested that any commercial business being built att the intersection use the shared access for traffic safety and tol limit curb cuts on! Houston Lake Road int that area. This issue has been Mr. Gottwals presented" the Engineering Department'sr request for the approval ofab bid ont the Motion by Mr. Gottwals, second by Ms. Robinson, and carried unanimously by all to approve the award oft the bid ont thel Davidson Road Paving Project to Reeves Construction Company of Macon, Georgia, and to authorize the Accounting Department tor make any necessary budget Chairman Perdue expressed appreciation for this project moving forward. He noted that the issues with Davidson! Road and the right of way regarding the paving! have been ont the Board's Mr. Gottwals presented the Board ofE Elections' request tol hire poll workers for the November Motion by Mr. Gottwals, second by Mr. Talton, and carried unanimously by all to approve hiring the following poll workers for the November 5, 2024, General Election, as well as the training and supplies, and for the Accounting Department to make all necessary budget  bep paid for using reserve funds.  project.  addressed with the City of Warner Robins, who support the concept.  Davidson! Road Paving project.  adjustments. This project, for $1,093,245.31, will be funded by ARPA.  radar for nearly 25 years. 5,2024, General Election.  adjustments:  AMOUNT $175.00 $125.00 $115.00 $25.00 $25.00 $15.50 $25.00  TOTAL $2975.00 $4250.00 $11,845.00 $3850.00 $250.00 $77.50 $25.00  17 Managers (Precinct) 34 Assistant Managers (Precinct) 103 Clerks 154 Training 10 Training (Backup' Workers) 5 Janitors 1 Janitor  Houston County Commissioners Meeting Continued on Page 425    425  Houston County Commissioners Meeting Continued from Page 424  334 BMD (Ballot Marking Device) 3 Election Supply Load Out Help 3 Election Night Equipment Return Help 3 Election Night Check-I In Clerks 17 Supply pick-up/return: supplies (Managers) 17 Cell Phones 2 Ballot Scan Clerks TOTAL  $2.00 $75.00 $75.00 $75.00 $10.00 $10.00 $100.00  $668.00 $225.00 $225.00 $225.00 $170.00 $170.00 $200.00 $25,155.50  Chairman Perdue mentioned that they were in training as the meeting took place. He also stated that hel had been by the Board ofE Elections earlieri int the day tos speak with Perry Youth Mr. Talton presented: a request fora approval ofa anl Intergovernmental. Agreement with the City of Perry that sets the conditions under which the County will provide emergency fuel assistance tot the City of Perryi int the case ofar manmade or natural cause ore enemy attack that Motion by Mr. Talton, second by Ms. Robinson, and carried unanimously by all to approve the renewalo oft thel Intergovernmental. Agreement for the emergency use oft the county fuel supply Mr. Talton presented a request from the City of Perry to annex 42.89 acres on S. HWY 341. Chairman! Perdue opened thet floor for public comments about the annexation. There! being no Motion by Mr. Talton, second by Mr. Byrd, and carried unanimously by all to concur with the annexation tot the City ofF Perry, the 42.89 acres located on S. HWY 341, also known as Tax Parcel 000830043000. The propertyi is currently: zoned County R-AG; the proposed zoningi is Mr. Byrd commented that although the Perry Planning Commission voted on this action, the Chairman Perdue stated that the change inz zoning from County R-AG to City R-3 isab big step. Still, itist transitory to progress from commercial to R-1 as the property is adjacent to current Mr. Talton presented a request from the City of Perry to annex 22.5 acres located on Main Street." Thel Boardp previously concurred witht thisr request att the August 15, 2023, meeting, with az zone change of County R-AG to City R-3. However, the city denied the application at its  Leadership about registering to vote.  disrupts the commercial fuels supply.  by the City of Perry. This renewal will expire on October 20, 2026.  comments, the meeting continued.  City R-3.  Perry Councill has noty yet actedo oni it.  commercial property, R-1 housing, and likely future commercial property.  October 3, 2023, meeting.  Chairman Perdue opened thet floor for Public Comment.  Mr. Sharples of Perry, Georgia, spoke of his concerns about traffic, pedestrian sidewalks, and  safety.  With nof further comments, the meeting continued.  Houston County Commissioners Meeting Continued on Page 426    426  Houston County Commissioners Meeting Continued from Page 425  Motion by Mr. Talton, second by Mr. Byrd, and carried unanimously by all to concur with the annexation tot the City ofP Perry, the 22.5a acres located on Mains Street, also knowna as Tax Parcel 000570008000. The property is currentlyz zoned County R-AG and the proposed zoningi is City Chairman Perdue told Mr. Sharples that he appreciated his comments and fully respects the neighborhood's concerns. He said the County would be willing and able to help the City of Perry and GDOT address those concerns through SPLOST projects. He stated thati it would be difficult legally to deny an R1 zoning and that a legal challenge to a non-concurrence would Mr. Byrd presented: a request from the City of Warner Robins to annex the property at 1279  R-1.  likely be successful.  S. Houston Lake Road, containing 1.1 acres. Chairman Perdue opened the floor for Public Comments. There! beingr no comments, the meeting continued.  Motion by Mr. Byrd, second by Mr. Gottwals, and carried unanimously by all to concur with the annexation ofthep property at1 1279S. Houston Lake Road, alsol known as Tax Parcel00077D 006000 containing 1.1 acres, stipulating that all County utilities remain with the County. The Chairman Perdue mentioned the annexations that occurred at the previous meeting in the surrounding area and the stipulations regarding the maintenance and control of Houston Lake Road. In response, the City of Warner Robins has asked for an IGA, whichi is currently being worked on by county and city attorneys. An IGA will put the City and County in clear compliance with Georgia law regarding right-of-way ownership when a city has annexed both Mr. Byrdp presenteda a request from the City of Warner Robins toa annexp property located at 120 Kennel Drive. This annexation willl begin to clear up a large County island created in the past. David. Jones, of Warner Robins, spoke about his concerns: having a multi-story complex near normal residential homes, the flood zone, overcrowded schools, and the extra traffic and  current Zoning is County C-2; the proposed Zoning is City_C-2.  sides ofa road.  Chairman Perdue opened the floor for Public Comments.  noise.  With not further comments the meeting continued.  Mr. Byrd stated that before he offered ar motion, he shared many of the concerns that have been discussed today, inp particular, traffic one existing county roads that may not be equipped Motion by Mr. Byrd, second by Mr. Talton, and carried unanimously by allt to concur with the annexation of 120 Kennel Drive, also known as Tax Parcel 000730 032000 containing 22.97 acres. The current Zoningi is County R-1, and the proposed Zoning is City R-4, stipulating that  tol handle that traffic atp present.  noa access tot the property will be granted from Mauk Cir.  Houston County Commissioners Meeting Continued on Page 427    427  Houston County Commissioners Meeting Continued from Page 426  Mr. Gottwals asked Mr. Hall if the County would have legal ground to non-concur on this Mr. Hallr replied thati itv would be difficult tol legallyj ustlyanonconcurence, andi that the City's review process would address building regulations and buffer requirements. He also mentioned that the city should address environmental concerns regarding the Bay Gall Creek Chairman Perdue spoke to Mr. Jones, saying that the County would share his concerns with the Citya and that the motion from Commissioner Byrd addressed many of the traffic concerns by ensuring that traffic from this development will not go through the surrounding Motion by Mr. Byrd, second by Ms. Robinson, and carried unanimously by all to approve the Chairman Perdue closed ther new business portion oft the meeting and opened Commissioner's Mr. Talton recognized former Chairman Ned Sanders and his recent passing. He said he had no doubt in! his mind this County wouldn't be wherei itist today without his leadership. He also recognized Ms. Graham with Perry) Youth Leadership, sayingi itisa a good program. Mr. Gottwals mentioned that it was Constitution Day, otherwise known as Citizens Day and that it was also National Voter Registration Day. He stated he had spoken at Kings Chapel Mr. Byrd extended his thoughts and prayers to the Sanders family on the loss of former Chairman Ned Sanders. He said while he may have been small in stature, his presence was large, from the football field at the Citadel to his time of public service. He also welcomed Camryn Graham and her dad, Chris Graham. He commended Ms. Angie Gheesling with the Houston County Development Authority for her presentation att the Robins Regional Eggs and Ms. Robinson: said her only comment would be about former Chairman Ned Sanders. She said it was a privilege tos serve with him and that he was a terrific chairman and a terrific person.  annexation.  and thet floodplain during itsr review process.  neighborhood.  payment oft the bills totaling $2,766,590.96.  Comments.  Elementary about Constitution Day earlier.  Issues.  She said he would ber missed and wished his family well. Chairman Perdue asked Mr. Dunbar his thoughts.  Mr. Dunbar said it was a privilege serving with Mr. Sanders, who was a man of integrity and  character witha a big! heart.  Chairman Perdue asked Mr. Hall for his thoughts.  Mr. Hall replied that he, too, had enjoyed the time Mr. Sanders was chairman, saying he was meticulous about details and that it usually makes an attorney happy when there's attention to detail. He mentioned he shared al birthday with Mr. Sanders and that they always wished Chairman Perdue commented that as recently as six months ago, Mr. Sanders was still attending and participating in Middle Georgia Clean Air Coalition meetings, whichi is one of his legacies. Chairman! Perdue: stated thati former Chairman Sanders had alwaysb been encouraging and kind to him and that he remained forward-looking and concerned: about the future even  each other well ont that day.  int thel later years of his life.  Houston County Commissioners Meeting Continued on Page 428    428  Houston County Commissioners Meeting Continued from Page 427  Motion to adjourn by Mr. Byrd, second by Mr. Gottwals, and carried unanimously by all.  Meeting adjourned. Robbie Dunbar Director ofA Administration  Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner